Welcome to HILA 383: The Inquisition

recent posts

• Carlton Pearson and the Politics of Hell
  February 18, 2018

  A couple of weeks ago when we were discussing alumbradismo and the lutheranite heresies, I mentioned an episode of This American Life that dealt with the fall of Carlton Pearson. Pearson is a pastor, who came to doubt the existence of hell and changed his theology of salvation. His universalism got him branded a modern day heretic by the denomination he worked under. The episode tells that story, which is very compelling in light of the kinds of questions that Inquisitors were asked of 16th-century “heretics.”

• Inquisition and Politics of Sex
  January 21, 2018

  From the cricket pitch and Indian’s national team, we get the following headline:

• Inquisition and Politics of Sex
  January 20, 2018

  Another bit from the New York Times. In an op-ed last week following revelations that Donald Trump’s lawyer paid an adult film actress $130,000 to keep quiet about their affair, Michelle Goldberg looks at shifting attitudes towards political sex scandals.

• Oversight Committee as Inquisition
  January 15, 2018

  Over the course of the semester, I encourage you to watch for uses of ‘inquisition’ as metaphor in our current age. Here’s an example. Five days ago, when Represenative Darrell Issa (R) announced he would not run again for his Congressional seat in California, the New York Times included this observation in their coverage:

• Gearing up for Spring 2018
  January 10, 2018

  As we rapidly approach our first day of class in the Spring 2018 season, I’m frantically putting the final touches on the course syllabus and website. In addition to the site, a pdf version of the syllabus is available here, in case you prefer it in that form. I will also hand out paper copies on Thursday. I’m looking forward to an engaging semester of inquisitorial intrigue!